When to Fertilize a Flowering Almond Bush?
Flowering almond bushes make an easy to care for shrub. They tolerate poor soil, drought and smog and grow well in open ground or containers. You can even adjust their height up to 5 feet or more or plant them in compact rows to create a solid hedge. Knowing when to fertilize, prune and water are all key elements to nurturing healthy flowering almond bushes. Fertilizing should not be the only care you give your plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Spring
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Flowering almond bushes bloom in the late winter and throughout the middle of spring depending on the variety and the climate zone. Don't fertilize during flowering and postpone pruning until after the blooms fade and begin to fall. After the blooms change color, prune away a third to half the new growth. This encourages the roots to grow deeper and encourages the formation of new buds for the following spring.
Summer
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Once the heat of summer comes on, mulch around the roots of the bushes with some organic material to protect them. They usually don't need water unless a severe drought sets in. Flowering almonds have deep roots and tolerate moderate drought. Only water them if the soil becomes very dry around the plant. Flowering almonds shouldn't be fertilized in the summer.
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Autumn
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By September, flowering almond leaves begin to show some fall colors and start dropping. Now is the time to fertilize. Sprinkle a cup of granular, slow-acting fertilizer around the base of each shrub from the trunk to the outside edge of the branch tips. Check with your county extension agent for recommendations about the best fertilizer to use in your type of soil.
New Planting
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Autumn is the time to plant flowering almonds. They need sun, but can handle light shade. They prefer well-drained soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5 and require the same application of granular, slow-release fertilizer immediately after planting. Three or four weeks later, give the new plants a deep watering to ensure the roots set as deeply as possible before the first frost.
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References
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